Before taking a break for the summer, participants, families, staff and volunteers from across Blue Apple Theatre came together for our annual summer picnic at Lakeside Park in Eastleigh.

With sunshine, beautiful lakeside views and plenty of space to relax, Lakeside Park once again provided the perfect setting for catching up with friends old and new. Some people enjoyed strolling around the lakes, while others settled down with picnic blankets, chairs and plenty of refreshments to enjoy the day together.

One of the highlights of the picnic was the return of some fantastic homemade bhajis and chutney, kindly brought along by one of our parents. Having been a huge hit last year, they were just as popular this time around and quickly became one of the talking points of the afternoon.

It was especially lovely to welcome some first-time picnic-goers. Participants from our QE2, Chestnut, Hanger Farm and Winchester groups joined us for the event, helping to make it one of our most inclusive picnics yet. Although the picnic has been a regular fixture in the Blue Apple calendar for many years, it is always wonderful to see new people getting involved and making connections with members from our wider Blue Apple Theatre and Minstead Trust communities.

Events like our summer picnic are a great reminder that Blue Apple Theatre is about much more than weekly performing arts sessions. They provide opportunities for friendships to grow, experiences to be shared and communities to come together in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make the day such a success.

We wish all our participants, families, volunteers and supporters a wonderful summer. While many of us are looking forward to a well-earned break, we know that some are already counting down the days until classes start again in September. We can't wait to welcome everyone back for another exciting term.